Testimony

Hola Familia,

I would just like to say, Happy Fourth of July.  I sure love this holiday when we get to eat delicious food like hamburgers, pulled pork sandwiches and some cookies.  But I am here and so I will take advantage of what I have ha ha.  But I am so grateful for all the people that have fought for our Country and all the amazing things that they have done for us.

Sorry I was not online earlier.  Last night we decided that we were going to do a BBQ for P-day ha ha.  So my companion and I went and bought the food and then cooked it all ha ha.  I made homemade hamburgers and sausages and then a homemade potato salad.  It turned out awesome and the Zone really liked it I think.  I love having this time to be the Zone leader here to be able work super hard and help everyone.

Well this week was good I am so glad and so lucky to be here in Ilo.  It was a good week with a bunch of things going on and some interesting experiences.  But overall everything went well.  We were able to teach a bunch of great lessons.  We are working to find new people and to help people out and make them better people.  We have been working a lot with a sister named Bacilia, she is working hard and she really wants to be baptized she just needs to come to Church.  Everyone and their dogs work in the market on Sunday so it is a big struggle ha ha.  But we are working very carefully.  We just need to see a little more desire from her and for her to show her faith (Spanish version) for this next step in her life.  

It was so cool for Fast Sunday (Spanish version).  For Fast Sunday we were fasting to be able to complete with our goals and to be able to be better Disciples of Christ (Spanish version).  No investigators came Sunday, but we had a bunch of less actives come that we have been working with.  Then out of nowhere two investigators came to sacrament meeting.  They came in and just sat down.  So we went up to them after and were talking with them, they were invited from a member and they came to Church.  So we have a lesson with them this up coming Saturday.  It was cool to see how our prayers are answered in ways that we do not think ha ha.  Overall everything is going great.  I am very pleased with how the work is going.

I am working hard to be able to make the area that I am in better then what it was.  When we found out that Boyd K. Packer (Spanish version)  died we were thinking a ton.  Death (Spanish version) is really REAL.  It is crazy how fast it comes and how fast our life goes by.  There is no time to be unhappy, unforgiving, ungrateful, and sad.  This life is to be happy.  WE MAKE OUR OWN HAPPINESS. (Spanish version)  It is that simple.

We were talking with one sister and her son wrote home to them, and what he said really impacted me.  He said " I miss you guys so much because I have not seen you guys for a year, but I could not even imagine not being to live with you for the eternities.”  In the sense that they did not all reach the same kingdom in Heaven (Spanish version).  All I have to say is that we need to endure to the end (Spanish version).  Because I love you guys I want to live with all of you guys for the rest of my life on this earth and in the heavens.  I just want you all to be the most prepared that we can be to meet with him again because we do not know when he will come again.

Because it is fast Sunday I will end with my Testimony (Spanish version).  I know with all my heart that he lives, and that he knows each one of us personally.  He answers every single plea that we have and wants to help us.  I know that the Book of Mormon (Spanish version) is our guide for eternal life, and will change you for the better.  I know that this Church is true because I have kneeled and prayed to my Heavenly Father (Spanish version) to know it is the only true Church on this earth.  I know that we have an opportunity each day to make our lives better and all we have to do is to take it.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all so much and I hope that you all have a great week, just remember that I am praying for each and everyone one of you guys.

Les Amo,

Elder Cooley

Questions:

1. Favorite Scripture?

1 Corinthians 13 (Spanish version)

2. What are your thoughts on L. Tom Perry and Boyd K. Packer passing away?

It was interesting.  It just makes us know how weak we really are and how we need to be ready to meet God again.

3. How does it feel to be over half-way done with your mission?

It is crazy and I do not feel like I have nearly done enough things to be almost done ha ha.

4. Was it weird to not have fireworks on the Forth of July?

It was super weird and it was just like any other day.

TACOS

1 year ice cream

The BIB

Futbol Ilo: 6 Moqugua: 5

BBQ ing

Homemade Cheesecake

The BBQ

The Lajo Family

Kneel in Prayer

Link

Hola Familia,

Link

How is everyone doing this amazing week?  I am doing great.  I had one of the coolest experiences ever yesterday.  So this was awesome, we were able to teach an insane amount of lessons and visit a ton of people.  I have not been this tired on my mission before, but it was awesome.  After working so hard Sunday came along ha ha.  Sunday is the day when all you work in the week pays off; it is when people come to church.  When we got to Church (Spanish version) and there was nobody at all.  It was a national holiday and there was nobody at all in Church.  It was hard because all the work that we did throughout the entire week was for nothing.  But then I was thinking a ton during the day about everything and that night I was sitting down and I read a letter and at the end it said, “don’t forget to pray.” (Spanish version)  So I got on my knees and started pouring my heart out to God (Spanish version) to see what I need to do.  I know that he was there with me comforting me and giving me the strength that I needed and the knowledge to know that my work was not in vain.  He was there helping me and guiding me to be better, because he knows our pain and our heartache, he knows absolutely everything.  I would like to invite everyone to be able to have an experience like this to feel the love (Spanish version) that he has for us.

Well this week was great.  We were able to help a ton of people to come unto Christ (Spanish version) a little more.  Nothing too interesting happened this week but just an awesome experience.  This past year has been awesome.  Sometimes it is hard to not have too many baptisms (Spanish version) but I know that this is the work of the Lord and we need to preach repentance (Spanish version) and show how people can strengthen their faith (Spanish version).

Well family I love you all so much and I wish you all a great week.  I want to give a special shout out to JACLYN COOLEY.  I hope that you have a great birthday sister. Keep up the good work.

Les amo,

Elder Cooley

Questions:

1. Favorite scriptures?         

Matthew 6:33 (Spanish version)

2. Did you actually go to Trujillo for the dedication or was it just broadcast?

No it was just broadcasted to the Stake (Spanish version) Center in Ilo.

3. Is there anything special planned for your one-year anniversary?

Um I don’t know, maybe I will go out and buy some ice cream or something ha ha.

4. Do people go camping in Peru?

Nobody goes camping here ha ha.  I don’t think that it is even thought of ha ha.

5. Is your baptism still looking good for July first?

Well she did not come to Church because of the holiday so we have to postpone it for the next week.

6. Do Peruvians cook anything similar to s'mores? (We are plenty for you!)

They do not at all ha ha.  There are not graham crackers here ha ha.

7. What is your exercise regimen like in Ilo?

It is waking up at 5:30 and doing P90X and Insanity ha ha.

8. Have you had guinea pig yet?

I have not ha ha.

9. What is the nicest car that you have seen so far?

I saw a Camaro the other day but that is about it ha ha.

10. What do most people do for work in Ilo?

There are a lot of fishermen.

11. Do they eat toast?

They do not like bread in a loaf so it is super rare.  I will send pictures of a normal breakfast ha ha.

Temple Dedication

Hola Family,

Well this week has been crazy as usual ha ha.  Well after I wrote last week we went to the beach and ate lunch with the entire Zone, which was really cool, then we just hung out at the beach for an hour or so.  After that watched a movie at the Church.  That night went to a Family Home Evening (Spanish version) with a recent convert, which was a ton of fun.  Then we had the amazing opportunity to be able to have the Presidente (President) come and visit the Zone, which was awesome.  He came and we had a meeting with him in the morning about the Zone then we went and have a meeting with all the missionaries in the Zone.  Later that day we went on divisions with all the missionaries in the Zone; it was a fun opportunity.  This week we were able to have some tremendous lessons with people. 

We were able to help a member move and to help her have some better experiences with her new house.  We went and were able to attend the Temple Dedication for the Trujillo Temple.  It was awesome.  So Saturday night we went and watched the cultural event and that was super cool.  We watched traditional dances from all over northern Peru and it was really fantastic to see the history of this place.  On Sunday we had the opportunity to attend the three dedications sessions.  It was such a spiritual experience and I am so happy for the chance that we had to go and watch something so important in our Church.  I really liked a quote from President Utchdorf, "Normal Life is Temple Life."  We need to strive to always be worthy to attend the temple and to receive all the blessings that are found inside of the temple.

Hermana Basilia is doing really well and she is getting ready to be baptized on the 4th of July ha ha.  Which will be really cool.  We have been working with her for awhile and I know that she has changed and that she is doing a lot better.

I know that this Church is true and that the powers of the scriptures (Spanish version) are amazing.  I know that temples (Spanish version) are where we should go and need to go to strengthen our relationship with God.  I know that this Church is true and I love every single principal that we have. 

Have a great week and shout out to Frank, Happy Fathers Day! (Spanish version)

Les Amo,

Elder Cooley

Questions:

1. Favorite scripture?

2 Timothy 3:13-15 (Spanish version)

2. Have you had a chance to make any more no-bake cookies?

I have not made anymore no bake cookies ha ha.

3. How are things coming with your investigators?

They are coming along well.

4. Is there a rainy (or monsoon) season there?  If so, when is it?

There is no rain ha ha.  I have had one day of rain my entire mission ha ha.

5. Do you have a favorite quote?

“Normal life is Church life.”

6. How is your Spanish coming?

It is coming along well.  It has helped that I have been able to have a Latino companion to help me out.